Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1887-01-07
SIGHTING A STEAMER.
low the People Are Notified Of the Ar
/ rival of an Expected Vessel.

/ rival of an Expected Vessel.
When we read in the Eagle that the
Aurania was sighted off Fire Island at
three o'clock, how many persons know
how that piece of information was OBJ
tanned, or realize the Importance of
such news? 1t means that the vessel
has been seen six hours before she will
land her passengers in New York, thu,
giving abundant opportunity for people
on shore to prepare for the arrival of
their friends. A person in Philadelphia
or Albany receiving this information
can reach New York and be at the
steamer dock before the gang-plank is
thrown ont. 1t is only within seven
! years that observations have been taken
from Fire Island, and only within the
past year that there have been proper
facilities for making such observations.
Heretofore the public have had no init
nation of the arrival of an incoming
steamer until she was sighted off Sandy
Hook, allowing, if the tide was IA
vorable, only two or three hours
notice in New York City. The Fire
Island station is said to be the longest
distance observatory in the world, as it
certainly is in this country. The insti-
tuition was started and is run by the
Western Union Telegraph Company,
but its success is due to one man, Mr..
+. keegan, the operator. There is
probably no other man in America
who can fill his position to-day. When
he takes leave of absence. which is
seldom, the observatory is closed, the
company having no man they would
dare trust to make observations. 1t may
at first thought appear singular that
such is the fact, but consider moment.
The tracks of the ocean steamers on an
average are thirteen mile from the OBJ
servatory. At that distance the out
lines of vessel are very indis-
tinct except in very clear
weather, and at times the unframed
eye can hardly distinguish any object
whatever. Then think of the large
number of steamers to be recognized
and their names correctly reported, for
there must bdAno mistakes. 1t will not
Go for Mr. keegan to telegraph to New
York that the Aurania is coming when it
is the Servia, for see how many people
would be disappointed, how many din
ners prepared for guests who would not
| arrive, how many hacks hired to no
purpose and what confusion all around
Mr Keegan, therefore, must not make
a mistake, and he rarely does But how
can he know all of the vessels?
young man recently applied to the
superintendent of the Western Union
Company for the position of assistant
to MIR. keegan, stat ne that he under
stood the business thoroughly. The
superintendent asked him how he would
dstin guish one steamer from another
from Fire island?
Il would read her name by using the
elescope," was the reply.
IF you could no. m Ike out the name
what would you do?'
Il would take boat and row out to
the vessel.
I'm that event it would only be mat
ter of time VIII ch reached the shore
first, the man body or the boat" said
Mr.. Kcegan, when the incident was re-
lated to him.
Only once has Mr.. Keegan been able
to read the name of vessel passing his
station, and that was few wears ago
when the Amerque came within three
miles of the shore. Mr.. Keegan has
never been on board of one the Eu-
ropean steamers, and he says if he was
to see one passing through the Narrows
ne does not believe he could tell the
name, so accustomed has he become to
distinguish vessels at long distances. He
;ouid tell the name of a vessel quicker by
seeing her masts and smokestack eigh-
,ecn miles from Fire Island than by see
ng her hull, deck and rigging from
Fort Hamilton. Seeing so much of the
lull. he said, would throw him off his
reckoning. Some years ago this gen
flrman came to Fire Island, and began
20 make his observations from the Gu
lola of the Surf Hotel, which was con-
lectcd 10y wire and cable to New York.
50 successful was his work, and it be-
came of so much value to the shipping
world, that last year a substantial OBJ
ervatQry, sixty feet high, cost NC over
$4,000, was erected back of the
hotel and near the shore on the ocean
de of the island. Here Mr.. Keegan
lives with his family the YEAR round,
and in quarters that are very comfort
able and pleasant in summer, but lone
some in winter. However, Fire Island
lighthouse and life-saving station are
near by. Mr.. Kecgan is an intelligent
man as may readily be imagined, by a
glance at the class of books in his room
which he makes his companions during
MS long yigils He is, of course.
greatly aided in his work by knowing
when to expect certain steamers, but il
often happens that two steamers of the
'ame line are expected about the same
time, and then his knowledge of minute
details come into play. For instance.
on one smokestack of the Servia is
square white mark, while
on other steamers of the Cunarders the
mark is oblong. Certain vessels carry
their sails in a peculiar manner and
others have heavy rigging One steamer
has derrick in certain place, and
there are hundred other distinguish
ng marks to the trained observer By
careful observation Mr.. Keegan has
noted all these details. Each line has
its own course. From one port hole in